South Korea at World Cup 2026 — Son Heung-min's Last Tournament

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South Korea enters World Cup 2026 at a hinge moment — Son Heung-min is 33 and almost certainly playing his last World Cup. Behind him is a young, technically rich squad led by Lee Kang-in (PSG) and Kim Min-jae (Bayern). The chance of escaping the group is real; the chance of going deeper depends on draw luck and tactical maturity under new manager Hong Myung-bo.

Data source: KOC database, May 2026 snapshot.

Squad (DB-verified, May 2026)

Likely starting XI

Notable bench / U-23 options

• Bae Joon-ho (Stoke City) — emerging midfielder
• Jeong Sang-bin (Minnesota United) — pace winger
• Hong Hyun-seok (Genk) — utility midfielder

Manager: Hong Myung-bo (3rd spell)

The 2002 World Cup semi-finalist captain returned as national team manager in 2024 after Klinsmann's failed tenure. His third spell carries weight — fans remember his playing era fondly, and his tactical instincts lean organisational rather than expressive.

Tactical baseline

• Default: 4-2-3-1 with Son as a central CF, Lee Kang-in tucked in behind
• High press: 4-1-4-1 against weaker opponents, pressing from the front
• Counter: 5-3-2 against top opposition

Group stage outlook

Korea is a likely 2nd seed in their group, which means:

• Pot 1 opponent: a top 8 nation (Argentina / Brazil / France / Spain / etc.)
• Pot 3 opponent: a mid-tier (USA / Mexico / Senegal / Morocco)
• Pot 4 opponent: a lower-ranked / first-timer

Realistic group goal: 1W 1D 1L → second place, advance to R32.

Son Heung-min's last dance

Son's status

• Age at WC: 33 (turns 34 in July 2026)
• Club: LAFC (transferred from Tottenham in summer 2025)
• Korea caps: 130+
• Korea goals: 50+
• 2026 status: Almost certainly final World Cup

What Son means for Korea

• Marketing and morale anchor — the only Korean player most casual fans recognise
• Tactical centerpiece — Korea's attacking strategy revolves around him
• Captain's responsibility — leads the locker room, handles media

Lee Kang-in's role

Lee Kang-in (now 25) is the post-Son project. PSG starter, technical creator, gradually maturing into a complete midfielder.

• 2024-25: PSG won Champions League — Lee played 25+ matches
• 2025-26: First-team mainstay
• 2026 role: Behind Son in tactical pecking order, but the future captain

Realistic 2026 outcomes

Korea's World Cup history

Watching from Japan

Korea kickoffs in JST: Most matches will be 02:00-06:00 JST early morning based on USA host venues.

Related reading

• J.League 2026 — Season Preview from Outside Japan
• K League 2026 — Ulsan, Jeonbuk, and Asia's most underrated top flight
• Asian players in Europe's top 5 leagues — 2026 snapshot
• Son Heung-min — career profile
• Lee Kang-in — career profile

FAQ

Q. Why did Son move to LAFC? A. Financial + tactical. LAFC offered Son captain's role + larger salary. Tottenham was rebuilding under new ownership.

Q. Can Korea beat a top-tier team in the knockout? A. Has happened before — Korea beat Italy + Spain in 2002. Probability in 2026: 20-25%. Realistic if they get a favourable draw.

Q. Is Son a Ballon d'Or candidate in 2026? A. No — he's past peak career age. Last serious Ballon d'Or contention was 2021-22.

Q. Will Lee Kang-in become Korea's captain? A. Eventually. Most likely scenario: captain from 2027-28 onward, after Son's international retirement.